A Million Roads to Nowhere

Before the Next Full Moon

In a way he's never felt before, Patrick misses his old home. He thinks of Vertbank with the rolling green hills and little forest, perfect for hunting and foraging in. He tries to picture his mother's face and finds he can't remember the details anymore. He feels numb, and maybe that's sadness.

He wakes up that way- homesick and keyed up. It's a poor way to start the day in such a mood and he tries to cheer himself up when he gets dressed, but to no avail. Eating something sweet for breakfast helps, but he's sobered as soon as he remembers Signe is going to be leaving. Patrick doesn't even talk to her most of the time, but at least she's easy to read and hasn't ever appeared to hide things from him (Aodhan, William, Clementine, Lena).

Signe leaves Chourmondeley bright and early. Once breakfast is over, she's gone. Aodhan is openly upset by this in a way that makes it hard to be around him. William quietly finds his way to Patrick's side, muttering about how Aodhan's in a mood.

"I'll tell him off," Patrick offers.

William smiles slightly and shakes his head. "That's not necessary. I appreciate the sentiment."

William's jumpy today. At every little sound, he jolts and tenses up. Patrick wants to ask about it, though he figures if William wanted to say something, he would.

They spend the better part of the morning together before William leaves to go to his lessons with Aodhan. Patrick debates joining him, but learning about how to make tinctures and elixirs and whatnot sounds quite boring, so he goes and knocks on Clementine's door instead. Perhaps she'll have something for him to do.

Clementine answers, irritated. "What is it? Is it important?"

Her hair is ruffled and the top buttons of her dress are open, so different from how she usually looks. Patrick can't help but feel as if he's interrupted something.

"Um, not really, I-"

"Then tell me about it later if you have to. I'm busy."

She shuts the door with a flourish and Patrick is left standing in the hallway, befuddled. From inside her room, someone laughs. The tone is high-pitched and can only belong to Isla.

He assumes Brynjar is out in the camp outside the castle, but he's hesitant to go out there without a solid reason. He doesn't necessarily think Rozenn's soldiers will give him shit, but he'd rather not find out. So, he searches around for Lena even though she's the last person he wants to talk to right now.

Maybe, if she's done being a prick, we can go out to the beach or something.

Oddly enough, Patrick doesn't end up finding her. He walks both ends of the castle and the courtyard and yet she's nowhere to be found. He starts to worry. If Isla is with Clementine, that means she's likely alone.

She could be with Brynjar, but it's not like she isn't allowed to be by herself. What does it matter?

Patrick doesn't want to admit he's worried about who she's talking to when she's supposedly alone. Clementine tends to keep tabs on people, so she probably knows where she is. If she weren't in the middle of something, Patrick would go ask her. As it is, Patrick sulks around until one of Rozenn's servants comes to him and says he's wanted in the drawing room.

Patrick's anxious about this until he gets there and realizes he's not the only one who has been summoned. Even Clementine is there, apparently convinced to set aside whatever she was doing.